The House That Horror Built

Henry (Good Girls Don’t Die) spins an eerie haunted house tale set in the home of a famous horror director. Having escaped an abusive upbringing and homelessness, single mother Harry Adams now lives paycheck to paycheck while raising her 14-year-old son, Gabriel. Her latest in a string of low-paying gigs is cleaning the mansion of Javier Castillo, who closely resembles Guillermo del Toro in his career trajectory, elaborate home, and frequent collaborators—but that’s where the comparison ends. Castillo has been a recluse since his wife and son vanished in the midst of a murder investigation in which their son was a suspect. He takes an unexpected interest in Gabriel, and Harry doesn’t know how she should feel about the attention the eccentric but renowned filmmaker is showing her son. Meanwhile, strange happenings occur in the house: props move, costumes reach for her, and a strange voice from a perpetually locked room calls out for help. Harry’s motivations are occasionally muddled, making it difficult to fully invest in her plight. Still, Henry captures the epic scale of the best horror movies and her passion for monstrosity comes through clearly. The results are familiar but fun. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (May)